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For the third consecutive year, and the third time since 1947, the fertility rate for women over 40 exceeded the rate for women under 20.

The average age of mothers has increased from 26.4 in 1975 to 30.5 in 2017, the ONS said.

Meanwhile, the number of stillbirths in England and Wales has fallen to a record low.

There were 2,873 stillborn babies in 2017 compared with 3,112 in 2016, a decrease of 7.7 per cent.

That is the lowest number since records began in 1927, the ONS said.

The rate decreased from 4.4 per 1,000 births in 2016 to 4.2 in 2017, the lowest in 90 years.

For the third consecutive year, the fertility rate - births per thousand women - for over 40s was higher than that for under 20s

Since 2007, the rate has fallen by 19.2 per cent.

In 1927, there were 26,021 babies stillborn and 38.3 per 1,000 births.

ONS spokeswoman Nicola Haines said: "Birth rates for live births have decreased for all women except those aged 40 years and over where the birth rate has continued to rise, following a trend seen for the last 40 years.

"Despite this, the proportion of women aged 40 and over having a baby still remains below that seen in the 1940s."

She added: "The stillbirth rate has dropped to a record low, declining each year since 2011.

"It is a step towards achieving a government ambition to reduce the rate of stillbirths by introducing new maternity strategies while ensuring the best and safest care."